Travel to Mongolia
Travel to Mongolia isn't the easiest. And travelling around Mongolia, with its vast empty landscapes, is even more difficult.
The two main access points into Mongolia is flight and train. Most travellers travel to Ulaanbaatar first, the capital city of Mongolia.
Flight
There are direct links with Beijing, Seoul, Singapore, Frankfurt and Moscow with a new route planned to Istanbul in 2019.
The flight will take you over the beautiful Mongolian landscape dessert, mountains and steppe. This really brings home just how vast this amazing country really is.
After flying over the surrounding country of Mongolia, the capital city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar comes into view. It’s growing modern heart nestled in within a natural depression, and the outlying area punctuated by the white dots of tiny Mongolian Gers (traditional Mongolian tents) stretching up into the hills and surrounding areas. There are also colourful wooden homes similar to wooden Russian dachas.
The landing is smooth as the plan turns into a long green valley. If you’re lucky, the plain docks at the airport and you're pretty much immediately into the immigration area.
The lines move relatively quickly: Americans, Germans and Brazilians are all visa-free.
Those who have arranged with their tour companies can collect a visa upon arrival. Others should have applied for a visa at their nearest Mongolian embassy.
The process is not too tricky and can in most cases be finished in 2-3 days.
Next, pick up your luggage from the international belt, then out into the arrivals area a squash of guides, taxi drivers, waiting families, friends or employers wait.
For those travelling alone, a bus or taxi proves to be the easiest method.
For most, the taxi is the quickest option. Although in Mongolia, most taxis are private affairs so make sure the price for the car is agreed first.
Train
Another popular port of arrival is the train station. The city comes into view as the train snakes out of the surrounding hills, crossing a large river valley, rattling through the industrial and ger areas to the Ulaanbaatar city.
Upon arrival, it may come as a shock for those who boarded the train in regimented china as anyone is allowed to walk on to the platform.
Guides, families, etc will be vying to meet their wards.
Go carefully as the train sits high and you’ll need to climb down.
Freelance guides will be looking for independent travellers. Some may have licenses, whilst others, especially during summer, maybe local students looking for a way to pay their way.
Again, taxis will be the main transport if none is arranged prior to running you to the city.
Ulaanbaatar has the full hotel range available; from 5* luxury to run-down guest houses. Although, do beware that location is the key and pre-planning is better.
Ulaanbaatar is growing, and some of the hotels can be quite a leap away from the main city square. Busses can be very difficult and only possible to use with a bus card.
Note: Around July most guesthouses will be fully booked as visitor’s crowd the city for Naadam Festival.
TOURS TO MONGOLIA
MONGOLIA TRAVEL
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